Electronic cigarette and process of manufacturing same

ABSTRACT

An electronic cigarette and a process of manufacturing same are provided. The electronic cigarette includes a shell including a first inlet; a connection member on top of the shell and including a tube; a tank in the shell for storing air and e-liquid; an atomizer through the tank with a vacuum defined between the atomizer and the tank, the atomizer including a heating element, a power supply member, a second inlet through the atomizer, a first connection tube interconnecting the atomizer and the connection member, and a channel through the atomizer to communicate with the tank; and a cylinder in the shell and including a rod moveably projecting out of the shell, a biasing member put on the rod and biased between a limit plate and the cylinder, a cylindrical member, a plunger, and a tube member interconnecting the cylindrical member and the tank.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to electronic cigarettes and more particularly to an electronic cigarette and a process of manufacturing same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic cigarette is a new electronic product simulating tobacco smoking and has an appearance similar to a conventional cigarette. Further, the electronic cigarette can generate vapor similar to smoke generated by burning a cigarette. Furthermore, a user inhaling the vapor may have the same feeling and taste of smoking a cigarette. The electronic cigarette comprises an atomizer and a battery assembly detachably secured to the atomizer and adapted to supply power to the atomizer so that a heating element of the atomizer may atomize e-liquid to generate vapor for the user inhaling.

Currently, materials of electronic cigarettes are low in bio-degradability, pose a great threat to the environment, and are very high in recycling. Thus, a novel process of manufacturing an electronic cigarette is desired.

Typically, an electronic cigarette is inclined when a user inhales vapor in use. E-liquid decreases as vaping continues. Further, the amount of e-liquid entering a tank decreases due to gravity and internal pressure of the tank. As such, the vapor gradually becomes diluted. High heat in the atomizer transferring to the tank increases internal temperature of the tank due to a channel from the atomizer to the tank. And in turn, it increases the rate of vaporing in the tank. Therefore, a novel electronic cigarette is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems of the conventional art including materials of electronic cigarettes being low in bio-degradability, posing a great threat to the environment, and uncontrolled amount of e-liquid entering the atomizer by providing an electronic cigarette and process of manufacturing same having novel and nonobvious characteristics

To achieve above and other objects of the invention, the invention provides a process of manufacturing an electronic cigarette comprising the steps of selecting materials of components, and machining the components to produce finished components wherein the finished components include a cover, a pipe, a tank, and an atomizer; wherein the materials are bio-degradable; and wherein a bio-degradable electronic cigarette is manufactured by assembling the bio-degradable components.

The invention further provides an electronic cigarette comprising a shell including a first inlet; an internally threaded connection member on a top of the shell, the connection member comprising an externally threaded tube releasably secured thereto; a tank disposed in the shell, the tank comprising an internal push plate for dividing the tank into a first chamber for storing air and a second chamber for storing e-liquid; a tubular atomizer disposed through the tank with a vacuum chamber defined between the atomizer and a central tubular member of the tank, the atomizer comprising an internal conduction plate including a protruding heating element, a space member abutted upon the conduction plate and being opposite to the heating element, a power supply member disposed in the shell for supplying electricity to the heating element, a second inlet disposed through the atomizer, being external to the tank, and being adjacent to a top of the atomizer, a first connection tube interconnecting the atomizer and the connection member, a channel through the atomizer to communicate with the tank, and a first overflow valve disposed in the channel; and a cylinder disposed on an inner surface of the shell, the cylinder comprising a first rod moveably projecting out of the shell, a limit plate disposed on the first rod, a first biasing member put on the first rod and having a first end urging against the limit plate and a second end urging against a bottom of the cylinder, a mounting plate extending upward from the top of the tank, a cylindrical member secured to the mounting plate, the cylindrical member being spaced from the cylinder and aligned with the cylinder, a plunger moveably disposed in the cylindrical member, and a tube member interconnecting the cylindrical member and the first chamber.

The electronic cigarette of the invention has the following advantageous effects in comparison with the prior art:

It is possible to decrease pollution to the environment by selecting bio-degradable materials as components of the electronic cigarette. The bio-degradable materials of the components are compost such as BBM or EPA. Alternatively, the bio-degradable materials of the components are pulp prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibers from wood, fiber crops, waste paper, or rags. Further, the pulp can be shaped to obtain a bio-degradable material in a high pressure process.

It is possible to transport e-liquid from the tank to the atomizer by pressing the e-liquid filling device. The amount of e-liquid of a first transportation is generally equal to that of any of other transportations. Thus, it is possible to keep the amount of transported e-liquid to be a constant and in turn, a user inhaling the vapor may have a degree of comfort. The vacuum chamber between the atomizer and the tank and the channel can decrease heat transfer, thereby greatly decreasing heat transferred from the atomizer to the tank. Otherwise, the e-liquid in the tank may become vapor. As a result, quality of e-liquid in the tank can be maintained.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electronic cigarette of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing details of the upper portion of the electronic cigarette in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the area in circle A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing details of the lower portion of the electronic cigarette in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the area in circle B in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the area in circle C in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cigarette clamping pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A process of manufacturing an electronic cigarette comprises the steps of selecting materials of components, and machining the components to produce finished components. The finished components include a cover, a pipe, a tank, and an atomizer. The materials are bio-degradable. A bio-degradable electronic cigarette is manufactured by assembling the bio-degradable components.

In the invention, the components including the cover, the pipe, the tank, and the atomizer can be bio-degraded because they are made of bio-degradable materials. This has the advantages of decreasing pollution of the components to the environment and decreasing the cost of recycling the components after the electronic cigarette has been discarded.

The bio-degradable materials of the components are compost such as BBM or EPA.

Alternatively, the bio-degradable materials of the components are pulp prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibers from wood, fiber crops, waste paper, or rags. Further, the pulp can be shaped to obtain a bio-degradable material in a high pressure process.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, an electronic cigarette of the invention comprises a shell 1 including an inlet 101; an internally threaded connection member 2 on top of the shell 1, the connection member 2 including an externally threaded tube 201 releasably secured thereto; a tank 3 disposed in the shell 1 and including an internal push plate 301 for dividing the tank 3 into a first chamber 3011 for storing air and a second chamber 3012 for storing e-liquid; a tubular atomizer 6 disposed through the tank 3 with a vacuum chamber 304 defined between the atomizer 6 and a central tubular member 305 of the tank 3, the atomizer 6 including an internal conduction plate 601 including a protruding heating element 6011, a space 602 abutted upon the conduction plate 601 and being opposite to the heating element 6011, an intelligent power supply member 107 disposed in the shell 1 for supplying electricity to the heating element 6011, an inlet 303 disposed through the atomizer 6, being external to the tank 3, and being adjacent to top of the atomizer 6, a first connection tube 2021 interconnecting the atomizer 6 and the connection member 2, a channel 603 through the atomizer 6 to communicate with the tank 3, and an overflow valve 6031 disposed in the channel 603; a cylinder 5 disposed on an inner surface of the shell 1 and including a moveable rod 501 projecting out of the shell 1, a limit plate 502 disposed on the moveable rod 501, a helical spring 503 put on the moveable rod 501 and having a first end urging against the limit plate 502 and a second end urging against bottom of the cylinder 5, a mounting plate 506 extending upward from top of the tank 3, a cylindrical member 504 secured to the mounting plate 506, the cylindrical member 504 being spaced from the cylinder 5 and aligned with the cylinder 5, a plunger 505 moveably disposed in the cylindrical member 504, and a tube 507 interconnecting the cylindrical member 504 and the first chamber 3011.

A pressing of an open end of the moveable rod 501 moves the moveable rod 501 in the cylinder 5. The limit plate 502 also moves in the cylinder 5. The spring 503 is compressed. The plunger 505 also moves in the cylindrical member 504. A check valve (not shown) is provided at each of input and output of the cylindrical member 504. A sliding movement of the plunger 505 toward the cylindrical member 504 to cause air in the cylindrical member 504 to enter the first chamber 3011, thereby increasing pressure in the first chamber 3011. A release of the moveable rod 501 causes the spring 503 to expand to return both the limit plate 502 and the moveable rod 501 to their original positions. The plunger 505 also returns to its original position. Thus, external air is drawn into the cylindrical member 504. Air is continuously drawn into the first chamber 3011 by repeating above pressing and releasing operations of the moveable rod 501. Pressurized air moves the push plate 301, thereby increasing internal pressure of the second chamber 3012. And in turn, e-liquid in the second chamber 3012 flows to the atomizer 6 via the overflow valve 6031 in the channel 603. The intelligent power supply member 107 supplies electricity to the heating element 6011. The intelligent power supply member 107 includes conventional at least one rechargeable battery, a circuit board, and an on/off switch and thus is detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. The heating element 6011 generates heat to vaporize e-liquid in in the atomizer 6. Vapor flows to the tube 201 by sucking the tube 201 to generate a negative pressure in the tube 201. Also, external air is drawn into the inlet 303 due to the negative pressure in the tube 201. A check valve (not shown) is provided in the inlet 303. Air flows through the inlet 303 to mix with the vapor in the atomizer 6. The mixture flows through the first connection tube 2021 to enter the connection member 2 and further flows through the connection member 2 into the tube 201. A user inhales the vapor passing through the tube 201. After the open end of the moveable rod 501 has been pressed, air is drawn into the first chamber 3011 to increase the internal pressure of the first chamber 3011. Further, the moving push plate 301 transports e-liquid in the second chamber 3012 to the atomizer 6. The amount of e-liquid of a first transportation is generally equal to that of any of other transportations. Thus, it is possible to keep the amount of transported e-liquid to the atomizer 6 to be a constant and in turn, a user inhaling the vapor may have a degree of comfort. Further, the vacuum chamber 304 between the atomizer 6 and the tank 3 and the channel 603 can decrease heat transfer, thereby greatly decreasing heat transferred from the atomizer 6 to the second chamber 3012. Otherwise, the e-liquid in the second chamber 3012 may become vapor. As a result, quality of e-liquid in the second chamber 3012 can be maintained.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 specifically, a tubular filter 4 is provided on an inner surface of the shell 1. The filter 4 includes a dividing plate 401 for dividing the filter 4 into a first space 402 and a second space 403. The connection member 2 includes an inlet 203 communicating with the first space 402 via a second connection tube 2031, and an outlet 202 communicating with the first connection tube 2021. The filter 4 further comprises an porous substance 407 filled therein, a cavity (not shown) in the porous substance 407 corresponding to the dividing plate 401, a knob 408 threadedly secured to bottom of the filter 4, an outlet 4081 through the knob 408, and an overflow valve 4082 in the outlet 4081.

A user may use the electronic cigarette in public. In details, the mouth of the user may hold the tube 201. Next, the user may inhale. And in turn, generated vapor passes through the inlet 203, the second connection tube 2031, the first space 402 and the porous substance 407 so that impurities can be absorbed by the porous substance 407. The filtered vapor exits the electronic cigarette through the overflow valve 4082 at the bottom of the filter 4. The filtered vapor is harmless. The knob 408 can be detached to expose the porous substance 407. The porous substance 407 is made of active carbon or molecular sieve for retaining suspended solid particles. The porous substance 407 is characterized by prolonged life expectance, increased efficacy of absorbing impurities, and harmless exited vapor.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 specifically, the second space 403 communicates with the first chamber 3011 via a tunnel 404 and a passageway 302. A rod 405 moveably passes through the dividing plate 401 to have one end projecting out of the shell 1. The other end of the rod 405 is disposed in the tunnel 404 and a sealing block 406 is provided at the other end of the rod 405. A conic hole 4041 is provided at an end of the tunnel 404 with the sealing block 406 disposed thereat to block the hole 4041. A helical spring 4051 is put on the rod 405 and has one end urging against the dividing plate 401 and the other end urging against the sealing block 406 respectively.

A pressing of one end of the rod 405 causes the dividing plate 401 to compress the spring 4051. Further, the sealing block 406 moves toward a center of the tunnel 404 to open the hole 4041, i.e., the tunnel 404 being open. The mouth of the user holds the tube 201 and the user exhales. Air passing through the overflow valve 4082 enters the first chamber 3011 via the tunnel 404 and the passageway 302. Thus, internal pressure of the first chamber 3011 increases. And in turn, the push plate 301 moves to cause e-liquid to quickly flow into the atomizer 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 specifically, a threaded seal 7 is provided at bottom of the tank 3 and includes a sealing member 701 for preventing e-liquid in the tank 3 from leaking. Once the tank 3 is empty, a user may detach the seal 7 to expose the second chamber 3012 prior to filling the tank 3 (i.e., the second chamber 3012) with e-liquid.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 7 specifically, a threaded cigarette clamping pipe 8 is provided at bottom of the atomizer 6. The atomizer 6 includes components for fastening the cigarette clamping pipe. These components include a conic hole 604 at bottom of the atomizer 6, a sealing plate 605 moveably disposed in the hole 604, a rod 6052 extending out of bottom of the sealing plate 605, a limit plate 6053 provided on the rod 6052, and a helical spring 6054 put on the rod 6052 and having one end urging against the atomizer 6 and the other end urging against the limit plate 6053. The cigarette clamping pipe 8 cooperates with the rod 6052 and includes a first shell member 801, a second shell member 802 releasably, complimentarily secured to the first shell member 801, a clamping member 803 disposed in each of the first shell member 801 and the second shell member 802, a porous passageway 804 disposed in each of the first shell member 801 and the second shell member 802 and communicating with inside of the atomizer 6, a filtration material (not labeled) disposed in each passageway 804, a lighting device 805 provided on an inner surface of the second shell member 802, and a rubber pad 6051 provided between and fastened by both the sealing plate 605 and the sealing block 406.

In response to consumed e-liquid or ignition malfunctioned in public, a user may take out the cigarette clamping pipe 8, disengage the first shell member 801 from the second shell member 802, fasten a cigarette in a space defined by the clamping members 803 so that an oval opening (not labeled) is blocked by the deformed head of the cigarette, threadedly secure both the cigarette clamping pipe 8 and the cigarette to the atomizer 6 so that both the rod 6052 and the sealing plate 605 move to open the hole 604, hold the tube 201 with the mouth, activate the lighting device 805 to ignite the electronic cigarette to generate vapor, inhale through the tube 201 to draw external air into the cigarette clamping pipe via a check valve of the cigarette clamping pipe 8, both vapor and air enter the atomizer 6 via the passageways 804 and the filter 4, further both vapor and air enter an atomization chamber (not shown) in the atomizer 6 via a check valve (not shown) in the space 602 to be heated by the heating element 6011, the heated vapor passes through the first connection tube 2021, the outlet 202, and the tube 201, and finally the heated vapor is inhaled by the user.

Regarding exhaling, the mouse of the user holds the tube 201, sends vapor into the tube 201, vapor enters the space 402 via the inlet 203 and the second connection tube 2031, vapor passes through the porous substance 407 so that impurities can be absorbed by the porous substance 407, and finally the filtered vapor passes through the overflow valve 4082 at the bottom of the filter 4 to exit.

It is envisaged by the invention that the cigarette is disposed in a sealed space, vapor is prevented from exiting to the atmosphere to bother surrounding people, cigarette is burned in the cigarette clamping pipe with generated ashes retained in the vacuum chamber 304, the ashes can be disposed at an appropriate place (e.g., smoking room), and therefore, the environment is prevented from being polluted.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 specifically, a sponge member 102 is provided on an inner surface of the shell 1, a tool 103 is slidably provided through the sponge member 102, a pressing member 104 is provided through the shell 1, a groove 105 is provided in the shell 1 and adjacent to the pressing member 104, the groove 105 being configured to receive an end of the tool 103, a connection plate (not labeled) is provided at an inner end of the pressing member 104, and a helical spring 106 is provided between the inner surface of the shell 1 and the connection plate.

The spring 106 is compressed by pressing the rod 104. And in turn, the tool 103 moves upward along an inclined bottom of the groove 105. Top of the L-shaped tool 103 moves to project out of top of the shell 1. One end of the tool 103 is ring-shaped adapted to fit over a nut of the electronic cigarette and the other end is hexagonal adapted to fit over a hexagonal bolt of the electronic cigarette respectively. In an e-liquid filling step, a user may press of the rod 405 to open the tunnel 404. The user may use the tool 103 to dispose the push plate 301 in the tank 3. Excess air in the first chamber 3011 is expelled to allow more e-liquid to fill the tank 3. The spring 106 expands after the pressing member 104 has been released. The pressing member 104 returns to its original position. The user may clean e-liquid on the tool 103 prior to inserting the tool 103 through the sponge member 102 until the tool 103 is fastened by contraction force exerted by the sponge member 102. Thus, the tool 103 is secured to the shell 1 and is positioned in a safe place. Otherwise, the tool 103 may be lost and this may cause inconvenience when using the tool 103 is needed.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process of manufacturing an electronic cigarette, comprising the steps of selecting materials of components, and machining the components to produce finished components wherein the finished components include a cover, a pipe, a tank, and an atomizer; wherein the materials are bio-degradable; and wherein a bio-degradable electronic cigarette is manufactured by assembling the bio-degradable components.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the bio-degradable materials of the components are compost implemented as BBM or EPA.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the bio-degradable materials of the components are pulp prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibers from wood; and wherein the pulp is shaped to obtain a bio-degradable material in a high pressure process.
 4. An electronic cigarette, comprising: a shell including a first inlet; an internally threaded connection member on a top of the shell, the connection member comprising an externally threaded tube releasably secured thereto; a tank disposed in the shell, the tank comprising an internal push plate for dividing the tank into a first chamber for storing air and a second chamber for storing e-liquid; a tubular atomizer disposed through the tank with a vacuum chamber defined between the atomizer and a central tubular member of the tank, the atomizer comprising an internal conduction plate including a protruding heating element, a space member abutted upon the conduction plate and being opposite to the heating element, a power supply member disposed in the shell for supplying electricity to the heating element, a second inlet disposed through the atomizer, being external to the tank, and being adjacent to a top of the atomizer, a first connection tube interconnecting the atomizer and the connection member, a channel through the atomizer to communicate with the tank, and a first overflow valve disposed in the channel; and a cylinder disposed on an inner surface of the shell, the cylinder comprising a first rod moveably projecting out of the shell, a limit plate disposed on the first rod, a first biasing member put on the first rod and having a first end urging against the limit plate and a second end urging against a bottom of the cylinder, a mounting plate extending upward from the top of the tank, a cylindrical member secured to the mounting plate, the cylindrical member being spaced from the cylinder and aligned with the cylinder, a plunger moveably disposed in the cylindrical member, and a tube member interconnecting the cylindrical member and the first chamber.
 5. The electronic cigarette of claim 4, further comprising a tubular filter disposed on an inner surface of the shell, the filter comprising a dividing plate for dividing the filter into a first space and a second space, an porous substance, a knob threadedly secured to a bottom of the filter, a first outlet through the knob, and a second overflow valve in the first outlet; wherein the connection member comprises a third inlet communicating with the first space via a second connection tube, and a second outlet communicating with the first connection tube.
 6. The electronic cigarette of claim 5, further comprising a tunnel and a passageway for communicating the second space with the first chamber; a second rod moveably passing through the dividing plate to have one end projecting out of the shell and the other end disposed in the tunnel; a sealing block disposed at the other end of the second rod; a first conic hole disposed at an end of the tunnel with the sealing block disposed thereat to block the first conic hole; a second biasing member put on the second rod and having one end urging against the dividing plate and the other end urging against the sealing block.
 7. The electronic cigarette of claim 4, further comprising a threaded seal disposed at a bottom of the tank, the threaded seal comprising a sealing member for preventing e-liquid in the tank from leaking.
 8. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, further comprising a threaded cigarette clamping pipe disposed at a bottom of the atomizer; wherein the atomizer comprises components for fastening the cigarette clamping pipe.
 9. The electronic cigarette of claim 8, wherein the components comprise a second conic hole at the bottom of the atomizer, a sealing plate moveably disposed in the second conic hole, a third rod extending out of a bottom of the sealing plate, a limit plate disposed on the third rod, and a third biasing member put on the third rod and having one end urging against the atomizer and the other end urging against the limit plate; and wherein the cigarette clamping pipe cooperates with the third rod.
 10. The electronic cigarette of claim 8, wherein the cigarette clamping pipe comprises a first shell member, a second shell member releasably, complimentarily secured to the first shell member, a clamping member disposed in each of the first and second shell members, a porous passageway member disposed in each of the first and second shell members and communicating with inside of the atomizer, and a lighting device disposed on an inner surface of the second shell member. 